Concrete form



June 30, 1959 s, NELsEN ETAL I 2,892,237

CONCRETE FORM Filed Jan 23, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Silas ENeJsen BY Cyrusdjlgani'zer 6" ,6"

June 30,1959 s, NELSEN ET AL 2,892,237

CONCRETE FORM Filed Jan. '25, 1956' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS H Silas JiNeJsenv BY Cyrus rIMenfzer United States Patent CONCRETE FORM Silas E. Nelsen and Cyrus J. Mentzer, Tacoma, Wash.

' Application January 23, 1956, Serial No. 560,495

3 Claims. (Cl. 25131.5)

This invention relates to concrete forms.

It is the general purpose of this invention to provide a concrete form which may be used in pouring concrete to form the individual compartments making up an integrated, compartmented, concrete building such as a mansoleum. More specific objects and advantages of the present invention are the following:

(1) The provision of a concrete form which may be used in pouring a compartmented concrete building, the individual compartments of which are in exact alignment with each other, both horizontally and vertically.

(2) The provision of a concrete form which may be used in the erection of a compartmented concrete building serially until a structure of the desired size has been built.

(3) The provision of a concrete form use of which in the erection of a compartmented concrete building results in the construction of a building which is strong, braced in all directions, and resistant to earthquakes.

(4) The provision of a concrete form which when used in the erection of a compartmented concrete building prd duces compartments having smooth, finished inner walls without the necessity of subjecting the walls to a separate finishing operation.

5) The provision of a concrete form the use of which results in the erection of a strong compartmented building without inclusion of space-occupying columns and beams.

(6) The provision of a concrete form which is substantially indestructible and may be used repeatedly over a long period of time.

(7) The provision of a concrete form which may be assembled and dismantled easily and rapidly and which when dismantled may be nested for easy transportation or storage in a minimum of space.

(8) The provision of a concrete form which may be used for the erection of a compartmented concrete building at an accelerated rate using a minimum crew.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claims considered together with the drawings, wherein:

Figs. 1-5 inclusive are perspective views of the various parts of the herein described concrete form arranged substantially in their proper relationship to each other and forming in effect an exploded arrangement of the parts, Fig. 1 illustrating the front piece; Fig. 2 the back piece, Fig. 3, the bottom piece, Fig. 4 one of the two side pieces, and Fig. 5 the top piece;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the herein described concrete form with the component pieces assembled; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a compartmented building, e.g. a mausoleum, cast from concrete poured about the herein described concrete form.

Generally stated, the herein described concrete form comprises side, top, back and front pieces and means for releasably interlocking these pieces to hold them in po- ICC sition and substantially sealed against the entry of concrete poured over the assembly. A laterally expandable and retractable bottom piece also is provided. This is releasably attached to the side pieces.

A plurality of these forms may be placed in a row spaced from each other and from a back wall. Concrete may be poured over them and permitted to harden. The front and back pieces then may be removed and the bottom piece collapsed for stripping the side pieces from the concrete. All of the pieces then may be disassembled, leaving a compartment forming one unit of a compartmented concrete building.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particular reference to the drawings:

The bottom piece of the herein described concrete form assembly is indicated generally at 10 and illustrated in detail in Fig. 3. It includes a pair of laterally spaced apart side members or side rails 12, 14 which for the sake of stiffness preferably comprise angle irons. Fixed to the inner sides of the angle irons are sleeves 16-22 and lugs 23.

A central bar 24 having an upturned end 26 extends longitudinally centrally between side rails 12, 14 and substantially parallel thereto. It is interconnected with the side rails by means of a plurality of pivotally mounted links 28.

A screw 30 is achored rotatably into the upturned end 26 of bar 24 and also is threaded into a sleeve 32 which may be mounted on the front piece of the form assembly as will appear hereinafter. Screw 30 is substantially co-axial with center bar 24. Accordingly as it works in upturned end 26 and sleeve 32 it moves the bar in an axial direction. This in turn extends or retracts side rails 12, 14 in a lateral direction.

The side pieces 34 are releasably secured to the bottom piece 10. They may be substantially identical in construction, except that they are mirror images of each other, the one being for the left side and the other for the right. Both are comprised of metal sheets of substantial gauge. The lower portions of the sheets are substantially vertical, while the integral upper portions are arched inwardly toward, but spaced apart from, each other.

Sleeves 36, 38 are aflixed to the lower inside margins of the side pieces. These sleeves register with sleeves 16, 18 on the side rails 'of the bottom piece. Slidable therein are pins 40, 42 which consequently provide a means for aligning and releasably securing the side pieces to the bottom piece- Means also are provided for releasably interconnecting the side pieces to the back and front pieces of the assembly. Accordingly there is provided a perforated flange 46 welded or otherwise secured to the inside back end margin of each side piece. Also, there is provided a slotted tongue 48 extending outwardly from the forward edge of each of the side pieces. A peripheral rib 50 is provided on the outer end margin of each side piece for stiifness and also to form a rabbet in concrete poured over the form. This in turn creates a recess into which a concrete slab or other closure may be inserted if it is desired to close off the front opening of the compartment formed by pouring concrete about the form. Extensions of ribs 50 overlie the outside face of side rails 12, 14 and cooperate with lugs 23 in preventing displacement of the side pieces when a weight of concrete is poured against them.

The opening between the spaced edges of the two side pieces and the top of the form is sealed 011 by means of a top piece 52. Like the side pieces, this piece may be formed to advantage of a metal sheet of substantial gauge. For stiffness it is provided with a central longitudinal rib 54. Its outer forward end margin is provided with a rib 56 which registers with ribs on the side pieces and with them form a continuous rib structure which in turn results in the formation of a continuous rabbet in the concrete.

'To maintain side-pieces 34 properly spaced fromeach other-even when a heavy weight ofconcrete is poured about the form, there are provided a pair of longitudinally extending flanges 58, 60 running the length of the inner surface of top piece 52 but set in from the edges by an amount suificient to-permit the top piece to overlap the two side pieces as required to seal off the interior of the form against entry-offluid concrete.

Means areprovided on thetop piece for affixing it to the back and front pieces. Accordingly there is welded to the inside rear'margin'of the'top piece aperforated flange 62 which registers and cooperates with flanges 46 on side pieces 34 to provide a continuous member for securing a back piece'to the top and side'pieces. Also, a

slotted tongue 64extends'outwardly'from the'front edge of the top piece. This is used for securing the top piece to the front piece.

Back piece 66 of the presently described concrete form also is made of heavy gauge metal and is dimensioned to overlie and close olfthe rear opening formed by the side pieces, top piece and bottom piece. It is provided withmeans for securing it to the top and side pieces. Any suitable means may be used for this purpose, 'for example, perforations registering with the perforations in flanges 46, 62 in the side and top pieces through which bolts may be inserted. More conveniently, however, back piece 66 may be provided with a plurality of threaded studs 68 positionedfor insertion in the perforations in the flanges 46, 62 so that the back piece may be bolted thereto.

Still further, there are vertically spaced apart, aligned openings 70, 72 extending through the back plate. These are adapted for placement of inserts extending into the concrete poured behind the back plate forforming openings of predetermined size and shape.

Front piece 74 is a rigid member made up'primarily of a heavy gauge metal plate cut with an opening to provide an entrance into the interior of the form. This plate is stiffened and made rigid by the presence of upper enlarged corner areas, which serve as braces, and also by a peripheral flange 75. This flange has spaced holes 76 through its side components.

The front piece preferably is substantially rectangular and is sufliciently large so that it completely overlies and extends beyond the front opening formed-by side pieces 34 and top piece 52. Thus when two or more of the form assemblies are placed next to each other, with the side edges of the front pieces abutting, the front pieces may be bolted together through holes 76, leaving between the side, pieces of the formsspaces having widths determined by the extent vof projection of the front .pieces. These maybe filled with. concrete and'determine thethickness ofthe walls of the poure'dconcrete structure. The elevation of the topof the'frontpieces above top piece 52 determines the depth to which the'concrete is poured over the forms, and hence the thickness of the ceiling of the structure.

To fasten the front piece to the side pieces there are provided aligned slots 77, 78 on the opposite sides of the front piece. These are adapted to receive slotted projections 48 on the side pieces. Also a slot 80 is provided at the top of the front piece. This is dimensioned to receive tongue 64 on thetop piece. When tongues 48, 64 are inserted in slots 77, 78, 80 wedges 82 may be driven into the slots, whereby wedging the front piece tightly against the side and top pieces.

To assist in aligning the compartments which are integrated to form the final concrete structure, front piece 74 is formed with vertically aligned openings 83, 84. Openings '83 are dimensioned to receive bolts86 which are embedded in the stepped floor upon which the form is placed. Openings'84 are dimensioned to receive bolts 88 (Fig. 6) which will be embedded in the concrete poured over the form and will project from the front face of the solidified concrete for entering openings 83 in the bottom of the front face of the form when the form is applied to the casting of a superimposed tier of compartments.

Means also are provided for securing the bottom piece it"? to the front piece '74. Such means in the illustrated form comprise perforated flanges on sleeve 32. These perforations register with a pair of openings 90 through the lower lip of front piece 74. Accordingly bolts 92 may be inserted through the registering openings and employed to hold the bottom piece in place during its operation.

Manner of using the form In using the form bottom piece .10 is placed on a stepped floor in its approximate final positionwitheside rails 12, 14 fully extended. It is spaced apart a suitable distance from a back wall, which may be the back wall of the building or the back Wall of a groupof previously cast compartments. Side walls 34 then are placed inposition with pins 4%, 42 insleeves 36, 38 on .the side walls entering registering sleeves 16-22 on the bottom piece. This leaves the .top of the form open so that workmen can enter it to make adjustments.

Next, front piece 74 is placed in position. During this operation bolts 86 .extendingoutwardly from the stepped floor on which the form is placed are inserted inperforations 83 in the bottom of the front piece. Also tongues 48 on the side pieces are inserted in slots 77, 78 on the front .piece. Wedges 82 are wedged into these slots and bolts 83 are placed in openings 84.

Back piece66 next is connected to the side pieces. This is accomplished by inserting studs 68 on the back piece into the perforations through flanges 46.

Last of all the top or cap piece 52 is placed overlapping the spaced top edges of the side pieces, flanges'58, 60 on the top piece serving as abutments and preventing collapse of the side pieces into the interior of the form. Rib 56 on the top piece is aligned with the ribs 50 on the side pieces to form a continuous rib which produces a rabbet in the concrete poured about the form. Perforated flange 62 on the top piece registers with perforated flanges 46 on the side pieces, studs 68 on the back piece being inserted through the perforations. Tongue '64 is inserted into slot in the front piece and wedge 82. wedged into the slot in the tongue.

A plurality of forms may be erected in horizontal alignment with each other, spaced apart uniformly by the rims on front pieces 74 and interlocked by bolts extending through openings 76. Concrete then may be poured over the-entire group, whereupon it will flow between the individual forms, between the forms and the back wall, and over the forms to a height determined by the elevation of the top surfaces of front pieces 74, thereby embedding bolts 88 which thereafter may be used for aligning another group of the forms.

After the concrete has hardened, wedges 82 are loosened and pins 40, 42 removed. Screw 30 then is adjusted to retract side rails 12, 14 and collapse bottom piece 10. Front piece 74 then may be taken off and'bottom piece 10 removed. The inserts placed in opennigs 70, '72 through the back piece 66 may be taken out. Thereafter side pieces 34, back piece 66 and top piece 52 may be removed. This leaves an individual concrete compartment having an interior surface which is smooth and finished without being subjected to a separate finishing operation. The compartment is formed with a marginal rabbet 94, which may be used to seat a concretetslab or other closure for the front of the compartment, and with back wall openings 96, 98. Where azpluralityof the forms are used in combination with each other, a composite compartmented structure having the general appearance indicated in Fig. 7 may be built one tier at a time, the top of each finished tier acting as the floor for the next tier.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be considered as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be re sorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A concrete form for casting a tiered, compartmented building, said form comprising an inwardly collapsible bottom member, a pair of laterally spaced unitary upwardly arched side members terminating in laterally spaced upper edges, means releasably securing the lower ends of the side members to the lateral sides of the bottom member, a unitary top member having flanged longitudinal sides arranged to overlie and abut the spaced upper edges of the side members to prevent inward collapsing of the latter, a rear wall separate from the bottom member and having a periphery not greater than the outer periphery of the side and top members, means releasably securing the rear wall to the side and top members outside the rear ends of the latter, a front wall, and means releasably securing the front wall to the bottom, side and top members.

2. The concrete form of claim 1 wherein the front wall includes side flanges disposed laterally outward from the side members, whereby a plurality of front walls may be arranged side by side with adjacent side flanges secured together for securing a plurality of forms together with the side members thereof in spaced relation to each other, for pouring concrete over the plurality of forms and forming a multiple compartmented structure.

3. A concrete form for casting a tiered, compartmented building, said form comprising an inwardly collapsible bottom member, a pair of laterally spaced unitary side members including top sections, means releasably securing the lower ends of the side members to the lateral sides of the bottom member, a rear wall separate from the bottom member and having a periphery not greater than the outer periphery of the side members, means releasably securing the rear wall to the side members outside the rear ends of the latter, a front wall, and means releasably securing the front wall to the bottom and side members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 901,523 Cass Oct. 20, 1908 1,096,047 Miller May 12, 1914 1,097,234 Kempf May 19, 1914 1,167,568 Johnson Jan. 11, 1916 1,183,931 Weil May 23, 1916 1,525,087 Murray Feb. 3, 1925 1,598,665 Urban Sept. 7, 1926 2,111,063 Craven Mar. 15, 1938 2,113,086 Jennings Apr. 5, 1938 2,165,905 Phillips July 11, 1939 2,297,899 Krueger Oct. 6, 1942 2,486,038 Landau Oct. 25, 1949 2,493,264 Records Jan. 3, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 151,829 Australia June 11, 1953 723,192 Great Britain Feb. 2, 1955 

